Boxing: Pacquiao-Romero fight negotiation collapses

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Manny Pacquiao–Rolly Romero boxing showdown will not be happening.

This is not a drill. It’s true. Despite five months of negotiations following Pacquiao’s majority draw decision against Mario Barrios, the expected laid-out plan didn’t come to fruition and is now called off.

Multiple sources have verified the latest update, including The Ring Magazine and veteran boxing insider Mike Coppinger.

“Talks to match up Manny Pacquiao in a title shot vs. Rolly Romero in early 2026 have collapsed, sources tell Ring Magazine,” Coppinger wrote on social media.

Previously, negotiations between both camps already took a hit when the World Boxing Association (WBA) ordered Romero to defend his championship belt against Shakhram Giyasov on Dec. 4, 2025.

However, it seemed Romero’s only wish was to fight the Filipino living legend, sending a letter of exemption request to bypass the WBA’s order.

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing revealed Romero’s move to skip his title defense against Giyasov in favor of the blockbuster match against the sport’s only eight-division world champion.

“We’ve been mandated to fight Rolly Romero,” Hearn said.
“But Romero’s team put in an exemption request to face Manny Pacquiao, which I don’t believe is even done. Shakhram Giyasov has been waiting and waiting, and we believe the WBA should not allow that special exemption to take place.”

Since July 2025, Romero has expressed his eagerness to challenge Pacquiao, even without a concrete contract or agreed deal in place.

“A Hall of Famer on my résumé — who wouldn’t want that? That’s the easiest way to get into the Hall of Fame, right?” Romero said in an interview with BoxingScene.

Now that the Romero fight is no longer attainable, Coppinger said Pacquiao is currently exploring the option to stage a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

What’s next, Pacman?